Guard



Oct. 19 1926.

r 1,603,451 J.M.COBROS GUARD Filed Oct. 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 anoe'wtoz atkoznug Oct. 19 1926.

1,603,451 J. M. cameos GUARD Filed 001;. 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 awmwtcm Clo/m M 625/ 05 Patented Get. 19, 19260 UNITED sta es retain PATENT orrice.

Jenn M. COBROS, or sninnsron, wnsa vigeeiniA, Assre'non, BY niREorANn MESNE assreniunnrs, or TEN onn-nnnnnnnriis T0 nor/tantra cameo, THIRTY-ONE one nunnnnnrns To BENJAMIN rn'or'rA, AND amt oNE-nUnneEDm-Is To JOSEPH cen'uso, ALL or ean'rnvronn, MARYLAND.

GUARD.

Application filed Octolier 22, 1925. Serial No. 64,234.

This invention relates to certain improvements in guards and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind adapted to be employed in connection with rolling stock to prevent unauthorized persons climbing between adjacent cars and more particularly bet-ween the locomotive and an attached mail or other car.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character comprising rotatable elements positioned at the opposite sides of a car together with means for rotating the same, said members being provided with arms of a length substantially bridging the space between adjacentcars or the like to prevent aperson climbing therebetween.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind operating to prevent unauthorized breaking of a car door seal or the like and which means may be in driven connection with a mecha nism to prevent climbing between adjacent cars.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mechanism for preventing unauthorized persons climbing between cars or unlawfully breaking a seal or the like of a car door, said mechanism comprising rotatable members driven from an electric motor together with means whereby the operating circuit for the motor extends lengthwise of the train with means for readily making and breaking such circuit between adjacent cars.

The invention consists in the deails of con struction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several parts of my improved guard whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood; 1 will now proceed to describe tl'ie same with reference to the accoinpanying drawings, wherein I V l I c Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a guard constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in zip plied position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating I a coupling means herein disclosed for connecting the electric circuit between adjacent cars; a

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

v Figure 4 is a view in top plan of the mechanism as applied to a single car, said figure being somewhat of a diagrammatic character with certain of the parts removed;

Figure 5 a view in side elevation of the structure asillustrated in Figure l and also of a diagrammatic character;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the supporting bracket for that portion of the mechanism for coaction with a car seal or the like; 7

Figure 'Z is a view in end elevation of the bracket illustrated in Figure 6;

' Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating in detail the construction and mounting of the guard proper;

Figure 9 is a View in front elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view in inside elevation of the hub or central part of the guard proper as particularly disclosed in Figures 8 and 9.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, denotes a car of a closed or box type having coupled at one end portion a flat car F and to its opposite end portion a gondola G. do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in any way to any particular type of car and it is to be understood that in referring to such rolling stock a locomotive and other rolling equipment are in' cluded.

Disposed transversely of each end of the car C at a desired location thereon is a. shaft 1 extending a desired distance beyond the sides" of the car, said shaft be ng rotatably supported by suitable bearings P. Fixed to the shaft 1 at a desired oint interniediate its ends is a gear 3 meshing with a gear a carried" by the lower end portion of a vertically disposed shaft 5 rotatably supported by the bearings 6'.- Thisshaft 5 extends above the top of the car C and is provided at such upper end with a gear 7 meshing with a: gear 8 carried byan end portion of a shaft 9 extending lengthwise of the top or roof of the car C and rotatably supported by the bearings 10. The shaft 9 at adesired point thereon is in driven connection through the gears 11 with a drive shaft 12 of the motor M, said motor being of an electrical type and having a suitable. switch mechanism interposed in the operating circuit a thereof. The switch mechanism may be of any preferred type and is generally indicated at 14 in the accompanying drawings, said switch being preferably housed within a suitable casing normally locked to prevent manipulation by unauthorized persons.

The operating circuit a is adapted to be electrically connected with a generator or other source of electrical energy carried by the locomotive and for which reason sai'd circuit, when a train is made up, extends entirely along such train and it is also to be understood that each car provided with my improved equipment has its separate. operating motor. In order to properly close the circuit between adjacent cars, the circuit a is directed through suitably disposed pipes or conduits 15 which extend below each end of a car and each extremity of each of the pipes 15 is connected by a flexible tubing 16 through which the conductors are disposed. The conductors a extend from each of the tubes 16 to the contacts 17 suitably mounted within ahead 18, the contacts in one Of the heads, as herein disclosed, constituting sockets and in the second head plugs. When the heads are in assembled relation the plugs are properly engaged within the sockets so that the circuit is continued from one car to another.

The heads 18 when assembled have flat abutting faces one of which being provided with anoutstanding lug 19 snugly engaging within a recess 20 in the flat face of the sec ond head whereby both of the heads are effectively held in desired assembled relation. To further maintain the heads 18 in desired connection I provide one of said heads with a pivoted latch 21 having one end portion in locking engagement with the second head and normally maintained in such engagement by a spring 22 coacting with the opposite end portion of the latch 21 in a manner whereby the working end of the latch is urged toward the second head. Each of the heads 18 at its rear is provided with an extension 23 suitably coupled, as at 24, to a flexible retaining member 25, said member 25 having one end portion suitably connected, as at 26, to an end wall of the car. lVhen the heads 18 are uncoupledor separated, the weight of each head 18 is supported by the member 25 whereby the flexible tubing-16 is entirely relieved'of such weight or strain. y

The outer end portion ofeach of the shafts 1 has keyed, as at 27,for.otherwise,fixed thereto a disc 28 the outer face of which being flat and flush with the adjacent end of the shaft 1. The flat face of the disc 28 is provided with the radially aligned outstanding lugs 29 angular in cross section and pass through the opening 32 in the head. a

The portion 34 when the hub 31 is applied extends beyond the outer face of the hub 31 and is provided immediately adjacent to the outer face of the applied hub 31 with a reduced neck 35 which is adapted to be received within a recess 36 provided in a marginal portion of a holding lever 37. This lever 37 is pivotally engaged, as at 38, at one end to the outer face of the hub 31 whereby said lever may readily swing into or out of locking engagement with the member 34 of the extension 33. hen the lever 37 is in operative engagement with the part 34, it is held against accidental outward swinging movement by the spring member 39 anchored, as at 39, at one end to the outer face of the hub 31 and having its free end portion in close contact with the lever 37.

Bolted or otherwise secured, as at 40, to the periphery of the hub 31 is an end portion of an elongated arm 41 of a length to bridge the space between adjacent cars: At a point diametrically opposed to the arm 41 the hub 31 has bolted, as at 42, or otherwise secured thereto a socket member 43 with which is removably engaged the inner end portion of an arm 41 also of a length to bridge the space between adjacent cars. The inner portion of the arm 41 is provided with a re duced extension 44 which is snugly received within the socket member 43 and held in applied position by the pin or shank 45. The outer end of the shank 45 is provided with a laterally disposed arm 46 which, when the arm 41 is in applied position, is engaged between the inner portion of said arm 41 and a clip 47, said clip 47 coacting with the arm 46 to eifectively maintain the shank or pin 45 in applied position. I

An extended portion of one of the shafts 1 also has fixed thereto a gear 48 meshing with a gear 49 carried by the lower end por tion of an upwardly and inwardly inclined shaft 50 rotatably supported by the bearings 51 and 52 carried by a side wall of the car C. The shaft 50 terminates adjacent to the door I) and said-inner or upper end has j a-gear 53 meshing with a gear 54 carried by theinner end portion of an outstanding shaft 55 rotatably supported by a bearing 56 operatively supported by the bearing 52 through the medium of the curved or arcuate arm 57. The outer end portion of the shaft 55 is adapted to have operatively engaged therewith the relatively long arms 41 engaged in substantialy the same manner as hereinbefore referred to with respect to the arm 41. The arms 41 when in rotation provide effective means to prevent an unauthorized person breaking the car door seal or the like and thus avoiding unlawful entry within the car.

In practice, my improved mechanism is adapted to be operated when the train is at a standstill or traveling at a relatively low speed, it being readily understood that when the train is traveling at a hgh speed the use of the mechanism is not required. As the shafts 1 rotate the arms 41 and 41 provide effective means to prevent an unauthorized person climbing between adjacent cars. IVhen the mechanism is not in operation, an arm 41 may be readily removed to permit an authorized person to have passage between adjacent cars.

It is also to be noted that each of the heads 18 is provided with the holes 58 to facilitate the desired gripping or handling of the heads 18 when coupling or uncoupling the same.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a guard con structed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed. Thus for instance I do not wish to be limited to making the arm 41' with the tongue 44 insertable into the portion 43 as the parts 43 and 41 might be made in one piece without the necessity of using the latch members 46 and 47 and nearly the same result be accomplished. Neither do I wish to be limited to the making of the members 41 and 41 separate from the part 31 as the members 41 and 41 might be made integral with the part 31. While I do not wish to be limited to the use of this device in connection with cars of any train it is particularly adapted for preventing attacks on mail cars.

I claim 1. In combination with the adjacent cars of a train, rotatable members carried by one of the cars at opposite sides thereof, said rotatable members having outstanding parts bridging the space between said adjacent cars, and means for rotating the members.

2. In combination with the adjacent cars of a train, rotatable members carried by one of the cars at opposite sides thereof, said rotatable members having outstanding parts bridging the space between said adjacent cars, a shaft common to both of the rotatable members, and means for rotating the shaft.

In combination with the adjacent cars of a train, rotatable members carried by one of the cars at opposite sides thereof, said rotatable members having outstanding parts bridging the space between said adjacent cars, means for rotating the members, the outer portion of one of the outstanding parts being removable, and means for bold ing the same in working position.

4. In combination withthe adjacent cars of a train, one of said cars being provided with a door, rotatable means carried by opposite sides of one of the cars and bridging the space between adjacent cars when in rotation, means for rotating said first named means, a rotatable guard to prevent access to the door, and means operated by the second named means for driving the last named means.

5. In combination with the adjacent cars of a train, one of said cars being provided with a door, rotatable means carried by opposite sides of one of the cars and bridging the space between adjacent cars when in retation, means for rotating said first named means, a rotatable guard to prevent access to the seal of the door, and means operated by the second named means for driving the last named means.

6. In combination with the adjacent cars of atrain, rotatable members carried by one of the cars at opposite sides thereof, said rotatable members having outstanding parts bridging the space between said adjacent cars, means for rotating the members, an electric motor for rotating the members, an operating circuit for said motor extending along adjacent cars, and means for making and breaking such circuit between adjacent cars.

7 In combination with the adjacent cars of a train, rotatable members carried by one of the cars at opposite sides thereof, said rotatable members having outstanding parts bridging the space between said adjacent cars, means for rotating the members, an electric motor for rotating the members, an operating circuit for said motor extending along adjacent cars, and a switch interposed in said circuit carried by a car.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN M. COBROS. 

